Wonderworking Pochaev Icon To Be Venerated At Pilgrimage

For the first time in history, Orthodox Christian faithful from across North America will have an opportunity to venerate the wonderworking icon of Our Lady of Pochaev during the annual Pilgrimage to Saint Tikhon Monastery here May 24-27, 2002.

“The Pochaev icon of the Mother of God is one of the most venerated by Orthodox Christians, especially in Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and the Balkans,” says the Very Rev. Alexander Golubov, Academic Dean of Saint Tikhon Seminary. “Permanently housed in the Pochaev Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos in southwest Ukraine, the icon is widely renown for healings of the sick and other miracles.”

The icon arrived at New York’s Kennedy Airport on Monday evening, May 20, accompanied by Heguman Laurus and Hierodeacon Serapion from the Pochaev Monastery. The Very Rev. David Brum, Secretary to His Beatitude, Metropolitan Theodosius and Mr. Alexis Liberovsky, Archivist of the Orthodox Church in America, accompanied by the Very Revs. Sergei Glagolev and Basil Summer, met the delegation which accompanied the icon, which was immediately taken to Saint Sergius Chapel at the OCA Chancery in Syosset, NY.

On Tuesday morning, May 21, Metropolitan Theodosius celebrated a Service of Thanksgiving before the icon in Saint Sergius Chapel. Members of the Chancery staff and numerous clergy from the area venerated the icon after the service.

On Friday, May 24, at 2:30 p.m., Metropolitan Theodosius and the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops will lead the faithful in welcoming the icon as it arrives at Saint Tikhon Monastery. The icon will then be taken in procession to the monastery church, where the Akathistos Hymn will be chanted.

The icon will be available for veneration throughout the four-day pilgrimage, after which it will be returned to its home in Ukraine.

A related article on the history of the icon of Our Lady of Pochaev, written by Father Golubov, may be found on the OCA web site at Pochaev Icon History